Interesting article from today's free press:

The image on the big screen in Kyle Walters' office is paused momentarily, frozen on one of the receiving prospects the Winnipeg Blue Bombers general manager is evaluating for this spring's Canadian Draft.

And the brown uniforms and gold helmets eliminate any doubt as to who is under the microscope at the moment: University of Manitoba Bisons slotback Nic Demski.

"He's a stud," said Walters. "A stud, stud, stud. There's three receivers from the draft -- Demski, Lemar Durant from Simon Fraser and Addison Richards from Regina -- who could come in here and wouldn't be out of place competing for a starting spot, in my opinion."

It's here the debate is unfolding in the Bomber football offices, a discussion that will only be further fuelled when assistant GM/director of player personnel Ted Goveia, assistant GM/director of U.S. scouting Danny McManus and national scout Drew Morris arrive in Winnipeg on Monday to begin fine-tuning the team's preparations for the draft, in advance of the three regional player combines and the main evaluation camp later this month.

The draft is scheduled for May 12.

And the meat of the discussion goes something like this:

Should the Bombers grab an offensive lineman with the second overall pick they own, or go against the grain and nab a receiver, then hope that a draft deep in O-linemen will still serve up a solid prospect when they pick again at Nos. 11 and 15? Or even move down in the first round via trade and hope to land another later pick in a deep draft?

"The conventional wisdom is always O-line, O-line, O-line," said Walters. "The guard we would draft at No. 2 would be picked just because this is what you do: draft and develop offensive linemen. So you draft the O-lineman at No. 2... he's going to be good and you let him compete this year and you add some depth. Maybe in a year or two he's playing.

"But then because it's such a good draft, you could also bite the bullet this year and say, 'We got (Dominic) Picard in free agency. We feel comfortable with Picard, (Chris) Greaves, (Patrick) Neufeld and Matthias (Goossen). Three of them are going to be playing.

"So what if we went with the best football player with our first pick?"

Now, as much as the tried-and-true blueprint is to always draft O-linemen early, there could be some merit for the Bombers to go against the grain with the second pick. They plan to start two Canadians in their receiving corps -- Rory Kohlert and Julian Feoli-Gudino -- and traded Cory Watson and the 26th pick to Saskatchewan for homegrown prospect Kris Bastien, the rights to a neg-list player and the 15th selection. Kurt Goodrich and Ezra Millington, two other Canadian receivers, will also be in camp.

Granted, there isn't a Gerald Wilcox among that crew -- he was the last Canadian Bomber receiver to finish with more than 1,000 yards, way back in 1995 -- but landing another Canadian who could possibly start much more quickly than an offensive lineman would give the Bombers considerably more roster flexibility.

As it stands, the club's seven Canadian starters would come along the O-line (3), at receiver (2), linebacker (1) and cornerback (1).

"It's such a great draft and we're going to get a good one at No. 2 if we pick an O-lineman," said Walters.

"But none of them are going to come in and have you saying, 'Slam dunk, this kid is going to be better than Greaves, Picard, or Neufeld or Matthias.' There are a bunch of them that are going to be like Matthias -- good solid prospects that will be good pros. But they need some development.

"(Receiver) is a position where we could keep loading up. Since Cory (selected ninth in 2010), we really haven't spent any draft picks on receivers. All of this has sparked a ton of debate."

BLUE 'TO-DO' LIST

The Bombers still have some big-time holes on their depth chart and hope to find some plugs at next month's free-agent camp in Florida. Some of the numbers:

14 receivers are coming to the mini-c six would likely be invited to main camp.

Eight linebackers will be in Florida; five will advance to main camp.

12 defensive backs, seven to main camp.

The Bombers are also looking for a specific type of receiver.

"Big guys," said Walters. "We're looking for that 'X' receiver (wideout), that guy who is big, physical and a precise route-runner. That's one of the issues we had last year: Denny (Clarence Denmark) and Nick (Moore) are more or less the same type of guy, a slotback who handles the underneath stuff. But we need that big-play explosive receiver that can win one-on-one battles. That's what we need to find and we're trying to find as many as possible. They either have to be big Chris Matthews types who can just win with their size, or precise route runners."

I can't see us taking Demski but the homer aspect of it makes it kind of cool. Sounds from the article though that Walters would be more interested in an X receiver and that is likely not going to be a spot Demski plays.

Pretty sure he wants an X receiver as an import from the free agent camps, not the draft.

The online has been the Bombers downfall for years. Walters was able to sign Picard and Bryant but we have no depth if any of them are injured. Why is Morley not in the plans anymore he is capable of playing a number of positions on the oline. With the 2nd pick we should go oline and with  the 11th then at 15 grab Demski who I don't think is ready to play yet. I see him as a year or 2 away from contributing to a team. Why not crab a D lineman as we need to find someone that can be as good if not better then Doug brown was.

Demski won't be there at 15. If you want him take him at 2. OL in at 11 and later. 15 I'd take best avail dl or lb. The OL guy probably won't play this year either

From the sounds of things we are going 3 Canadians on the online and those 3 will be Picard greaves and one of goossen or Neufeld with the other backing up. That's our 4 Canadian OL on the roster. If we take OL at 2 he's ir'd more than likely. Also sounds like none of them project to be tackles

Wonder if they would trade one or both seconds to move up for another in the top 5.

Wonder if they would trade one or both seconds to move up for another in the top 5.

Because of how deep this draft is, I doubt it.

Daryl Waud DL is projected at number 3, would he be a stretch at 2 and then go after an O-lineman at 11? 

I just don't see Neufeld making it through a whole season un-injured. Morley will still be around.

I just don't see Neufeld making it through a whole season un-injured. Morley will still be around.

I'd also like to see Morley kept around, but Walters didn't mention him as being part of this years plans. Walters also said he needs to cut some salary from the OL. All signs point to Morley retiring or being released.

Daryl Waud DL is projected at number 3, would he be a stretch at 2 and then go after an O-lineman at 11? 

 

Waud turned some heads in the States when he played in the Shrine Bowl - he's could be NFL bound.

Daryl Waud DL is projected at number 3, would he be a stretch at 2 and then go after an O-lineman at 11?

Waud turned some heads in the States when he played in the Shrine Bowl - he's could be NFL bound.

Yep. Key to drafting in the CFL is getting the best players who won't leave for the NFL.

I'd also like to see Morley kept around, but Walters didn't mention him as being part of this years plans. Walters also said he needs to cut some salary from the OL. All signs point to Morley retiring or being released.

"Retiring" and then being called back in mid Sept when the OL injuries start kicking in.

I'd also like to see Morley kept around, but Walters didn't mention him as being part of this years plans. Walters also said he needs to cut some salary from the OL. All signs point to Morley retiring or being released.

"Retiring" and then being called back in mid Sept when the OL injuries start kicking in.

If he stays in shape that might not be a bad idea if all parties are in agreement.

 

I can't see us taking Demski but the homer aspect of it makes it kind of cool. Sounds from the article though that Walters would be more interested in an X receiver and that is likely not going to be a spot Demski plays.

Pretty sure he wants an X receiver as an import from the free agent camps, not the draft.

 

 

Its possible, but the article was discussing Canadian WRs in the draft.

I can't see us taking Demski but the homer aspect of it makes it kind of cool. Sounds from the article though that Walters would be more interested in an X receiver and that is likely not going to be a spot Demski plays.

Pretty sure he wants an X receiver as an import from the free agent camps, not the draft.

Its possible, but the article was discussing Canadian WRs in the draft.

No it was discussing both the Canadian draft and the free agent camp. Several issues discussed in one article. Read it again. The part about the X receiver is under the free agent camp section.

It's open to interpretation.

 

I don't see us taking Demski though.

 

Durant is the better prospect and I do think he suits the mold of what we're looking for better.

It's open to interpretation.

I don't see us taking Demski though.

Durant is the better prospect and I do think he suits the mold of what we're looking for better.

Actually it's not open to interpretation. Read the Free Press article then (on their website). There's a clear separation by a header between the draft discussion and the FA camp discussion. The discussion on the big X receiver is about import free agent camps, not the draft.

 

 

 

I can't see us taking Demski but the homer aspect of it makes it kind of cool. Sounds from the article though that Walters would be more interested in an X receiver and that is likely not going to be a spot Demski plays.

Pretty sure he wants an X receiver as an import from the free agent camps, not the draft.

Its possible, but the article was discussing Canadian WRs in the draft.

No it was discussing both the Canadian draft and the free agent camp. Several issues discussed in one article. Read it again. The part about the X receiver is under the free agent camp section.

 

 

think it is nonspecific enough to refer to either Canadian or American receivers playing the X spot.

I can't see us taking Demski but the homer aspect of it makes it kind of cool. Sounds from the article though that Walters would be more interested in an X receiver and that is likely not going to be a spot Demski plays.

Pretty sure he wants an X receiver as an import from the free agent camps, not the draft.

Its possible, but the article was discussing Canadian WRs in the draft.

No it was discussing both the Canadian draft and the free agent camp. Several issues discussed in one article. Read it again. The part about the X receiver is under the free agent camp section.

think it is nonspecific enough to refer to either Canadian or American receivers playing the X spot.

Like I said above. If it's not clear in what I posted, read the article of the free press website. It's like two articles in one. One on the draft and on one free agent camps where it talks about the import X receiver.

But read whatever you guys want. That's not how Ed Tait wrote it though.

okay. You're right.

Do you feel better now?

 

It's open to interpretation.

I don't see us taking Demski though.

Durant is the better prospect and I do think he suits the mold of what we're looking for better.

Actually it's not open to interpretation. Read the Free Press article then (on their website). There's a clear separation by a header between the draft discussion and the FA camp discussion. The discussion on the big X receiver is about import free agent camps, not the draft.

 

 

And when you look at it on their website, the part about FA camps and X receivers are in a side bar with multiple lines between them which means they are 2 separate thoughts implying the Bombers wish to sign X receivers any way they can't get them - draft or FA.

It's open to interpretation.

I don't see us taking Demski though.

Durant is the better prospect and I do think he suits the mold of what we're looking for better.

Actually it's not open to interpretation. Read the Free Press article then (on their website). There's a clear separation by a header between the draft discussion and the FA camp discussion. The discussion on the big X receiver is about import free agent camps, not the draft.

And when you look at it on their website, the part about FA camps and X receivers are in a side bar with multiple lines between them which means they are 2 separate thoughts implying the Bombers wish to sign X receivers any way they can't get them - draft or FA.

It's clear to me what Tait was reporting here, but if you want to believe that based on reading the article, Walters is looking to this years draft for a big X receiver to make an impact this season, that's up to you. To me the article is clear; one part CFL draft, one part free agent camp.

I think it is really clear that Walters is looking for an X receiver. I, also, think it is really clear that Durant could fit that role. Whether separated by a header or not connect the dots. The draft is one avenue we could both bolster our NI starters AND address a position of need if we drafted Durant. Two birds with one stone has me agreeing with Mike, don't really care if a header seperates the two thoughts or not.

I think it is really clear that Walters is looking for an X receiver. I, also, think it is really clear that Durant could fit that role. Whether separated by a header or not connect the dots. The draft is one avenue we could both bolster our NI starters AND address a position of need if we drafted Durant. Two birds with one stone has me agreeing with Mike, don't really care if a header seperates the two thoughts or not.

So you expect Durant to step right in his rookie year and make an impact as the starting X for the Bombers? Okay.

 

I think it is really clear that Walters is looking for an X receiver. I, also, think it is really clear that Durant could fit that role. Whether separated by a header or not connect the dots. The draft is one avenue we could both bolster our NI starters AND address a position of need if we drafted Durant. Two birds with one stone has me agreeing with Mike, don't really care if a header seperates the two thoughts or not.

So you expect Durant to step right in his rookie year and make an impact as the starting X for the Bombers? Okay.

 

 

I know the easy response to this is to point out that Kito Poblah didn't pan out, but Lemar Durant is probably the most solid REC prospect the CFL has seen since Kito Poblah. Shamawd Chambers is up there too.

 

Durant is a very solid receiver and I definitely wouldn't write him off as a potential year one starter. There are going to be a few of them in this draft and I think he's got as good a shot as any.